Village Board Members
Michael C. Gorman, Village President
Michael C. Gorman, 57, has been a Riverside resident since 1979. He and his wife, Linda, have three children who all graduated from Riverside public schools before moving on to college and beyond.
Mike holds a Bachelor of Business Degree from Western Illinois University where he graduated #1 in the Department of Accountancy and was named the Outstanding Senior of his graduating class. He passed the May 1973 Uniform Certified Public Accountants Exam and was awarded the Sells Award, the highest national honor granted on the CPA exam. Mike received his Juris Doctor Degree from Northwestern University School of Law, with a top 25% class rank, and has been a member of the Illinois Bar since 1979.
Having spent his entire career working for and advising business clients, Mike began as a financial auditor with one of the preeminent international certified public accounting firms, Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co., now KPMG. Mike’s audit work as a CPA was concentrated in the insurance, manufacturing and media industries. While attending law school, he gained hands-on experience serving as the law clerk for the Attorney of the Town of Cicero. Upon graduation from Northwestern, Mike worked as an associate attorney with a business law firm in the Chicago loop before taking a position as Corporate Counsel for Leo Burnett Company, Chicago’s largest multi-national advertising agency. At Leo Burnett, he was responsible for all legal-related issues concerning domestic and international business operations. His responsibilities included budget and staff oversight for the Legal Dept., counseling corporate management on all aspects of business operations, and handling all mergers and acquisitions activity on a world-wide basis. Mike served Leo Burnett as Senior Vice President, Corporate Counsel, Assistant General Counsel, and Assistant Corporate Secretary. Mike then held the position of Director-Portfolio Management for Bank One, now Chase Bank, where he supervised information management and data integrity projects focused on the analysis of the risk profile of the bank’s investments.
Through all of Mike and Linda’s years in our community, Riverside’s schools, recreation programs and community events have been an integral part of their family’s life. For the past 2 ½ years, Mike has taken an active part in Riverside government as a member of the Long Term Finance Committee and as a constant voice advocating for residents at Village Board of Trustee Meetings.
Asked why he is seeking elective office in Riverside, Mike responded, “At this point in my life, I have the experience, the time, and most importantly, the passion to be of service to my friends and neighbors — the residents of Riverside. Along with my running mates, I can make a positive difference in Riverside’s future.”
Jim Reynolds, 63, has been a resident of Riverside for the last 15 years. He and his wife Chandra have a daughter, Aria, who is a mechanical engineering student at MIT, and a son, Preston, who is currently a senior at Riverside-Brookfield H.S
Jim holds an Associate of Arts Degree from Wright College, a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Southern Illinois University and sits on the Executive Advisory Board of F.I.R.S.T.(For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an international organization that mentors students through robotic competitions from elementary school through high school. Among his many activities, he is past president of the Belmont Antique Dealer’s Association, holds a real estate license, is the CEO of Father Time Antiques, Inc. (the Midwest’s largest restorer and retailer of vintage and antique timepieces), is the CEO of Segway of Chicago, (the first dealer in the Midwest to offer this new form of “green transportation”), and is the Vice President of Idea Studio, a family business located in La Grange.
An entrepreneur for over 30 years, Jim understands what it takes to effectively manage and fund private enterprise. Public enterprise and service requires the same fiscal responsibilities. Jim started both of his businesses from scratch and he knows the vagaries and pitfalls of fiscal management. As an Executive Advisory Board member for FIRST, Jim has worked hard to benefit Illinois’ children by engaging them in pursuits of science and technology, finding Fortune 500 companies to mentor the children through robotic competitions. Jim engages with CEOs, foundation heads, academics, inventors, and thinkers from all over the United States. He knows the business of raising capital for enterprise and can lend his expertise to our Village.
“Frederick Law Olmsted had a vision that has been handed down to us and we are now the caretakers for future generations. This is a heavy responsibility and not one to be taken lightly. ” It has been said “that if we are to lose Riverside, it will be one piece at a time.” I have reflected on this comment and I know what the speaker means. One of the main reasons I am running for trustee is to preserve our landmark landscape and to foster that sense of community that Olmsted wanted to create for Riverside’s residents.”
“Olmsted’s idea was to provide a pastoral landscape with large green swards of common areas that would foster clean living, good health, and pleasant interaction between residents.”
During his time here in Riverside he has learned what a special gift this Village is and how important proper management is to our future and our heritage. As past President of the Frederick Law Olmsted Society of Riverside, a founding member of the Concerned Citizens of Riverside and the Riverside Community Alliance, Jim remains dedicated to protecting our landmark status and keeping our community strong, healthy and fiscally sound.
Lonnie R. Sacchi, Village Trustee
Lonnie R. Sacchi, 59, has been a Riverside resident for 25 years. He has a B.A. in history from Loyola University and has continued his educational studies with multiple seminars at the Newberry Library. His professional life has centered around the establishment of Access Automotive, which he served as Vice President and from which he retired in 1992. He then transitioned his career into commercial and residential real estate investment and today owns and manages apartments. As a community activist and preservationist, he has served on the board of directors and as president of the Olmsted Society, as a founder and treasurer of Concerned Citizens of Riverside, and as a founder and treasurer of the Riverside Community Alliance. He has also served as president and treasurer of the Mayfair Co-op Association, a residential development in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. He also occasionally contributes articles to the Landmark Newspaper.
“My experience in starting up and running my own business, coupled with my experience in building and managing both commercial and residential property will be put to good use in revitalizing Riverside’s business districts. And my decade-long experience as an advocate for good government and fiscal responsibility will help ensure that whatever we do is done within the financial constraints placed upon us by the taxpayers of Riverside. I have always viewed our village as a “Living Landmark”. With profound respect for our past and unbridled optimism for our future, I am eager to work with my running mates, board members and residents to give the citizens of our village a government they can be proud of.”
Mark D. Shevitz, Village Trustee
Mark D. Shevitz, 40, has been a resident of Riverside for 10 years. He and his wife, Amy, have a son at Riverside Presbyterian Preschool.
Mark has an extensive background working with businesses — from Fortune 500 corporations to small startups —Â on their communications, business, branding and marketing issues. He is currently the Senior Brand Strategist at Moveo Integrated Branding in Oakbrook Terrace, IL. He regularly works with seven-figure budgets and helps clients solve their real-world business issues.
Prior to joining his current employer, Mark started and ran a successful communications consulting business based in Riverside. As a part his work, he helped turn a startup company into a multi-million dollar industry leader, assisted in the launch of numerous successful products and service lines and helped clients get the most out of their budgets, whether large or small.
Mark has been active in the community, serving on the board of the Frederick Law Olmsted Society and founding its Long-Range Planning Committee. He has also advocated for smarter budgeting and fiscal responsibility in Riverside as a member of Concerned Citizens for Riverside and the Riverside Community Alliance. He has also volunteered his time for the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Chicago Cares. He is a graduate of Colgate University and has been a guest lecturer at DePaul University and UIC.
“One of the greatest assets of Riverside is its sense of community — people here take a lot of pride in being Riverside residents. It’s not something you find everywhere,” said Shevitz. “I want that sense of community to remain strong, and I think by shoring up our budget, helping the Rec Department succeed and being mindful of how actions of the village impact our schools, we can ensure that Riverside flourishes for years to come. We may face some tough economic times at the state and national level, but I am confident that Riverside, and what makes it special, will remain a strong, vibrant community.”